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799 



59th Congress, |_ SENATE. 

'st Session. 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PL 3 



. Mr. Morgan presented the following 

ON THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 



March 22, 1906.— Ordered to be printed as a document. 



[Senate resolution No. 103, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session.] 
[In the Senate of the United States, March 22, 1906.— Ordered to lie over and to be printed.] 

Mr. Morgan submitted the following resolution: 

Resolved, That a committee of seven Senators be appointed by the Chair with 
instructions to make diligent and careful examination into the condition of the peo- 
ple of the Isle of Pines before and since the enactment of the law known as the Piatt 
amendment to the army appropriation bill, approved the second day of March, nine- 
teen hundred and one, and up to the time of the execution of this order and their 
report thereon. 

Such inquiry shall include the form of the so-called government de facto in said 
island, its officers and by whom appointed, and the manner in which such govern- 
ment has been conducted by those who claim or have claimed to be in authority 
there since the Army of the United States was withdrawn from the island of Cuba 
and the government of that island was turned over to the Congress and people of 
Cuba. 

The committee shall inquire and report whether, under such government in the 
Isle of Pines, any official abuses or oppressions have occurred with reference to the 
people of that island, affecting their liberties or their persons; their schools, their 
churches, their sepulture; their taxation, their employment or vocation; their prop- 
erty of any description; the registry of their land titles or wills or other conveyances: 
their intercourse and trade on the island or with other ports or places or with ship- 
ping engaged in the trade of the island. 

They will inquire and report in respect of any alleged judicial proceedings, civil or 
criminal, conducted or entertained by any judge, magistrate, or alcalde acting under 
the laws of Cuba, against any of the inhabitants of the Isle of Pines, resulting in their 
imprisonment or amercement in fines or forfeitures, ami of the places at which such 
trials were had, and as to the removal of such defendants, by force or compulsion, to 
any place in the island of Cuba to answer such accusations or prosecutions. 

And also whether the alleged judicial officers so employed in such proceedings were 
appointed by the Government of Cuba or of any department theri 

Said committee will further inquire and report as to the number of American citi- 
zens that were residing in the Isle of Pines at the time when the Government of Cuba 
was turned over to the Congress and people of the Republic of Cuba and before that 
time, and when the immigration of such citizens into said island first began. 

The3 r will further ascertain and report as to the progress of such immigration, the 
classes of people who settled in the island as seekers and builders of permanent homes 



!r OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 

ice, and the number of such citizens who now reside in the Isle of 
nt settlers; and also what increase or decrease of population and of 
s, respectively, has taken place in that island since the evacuation 
ie Army of the United States. 

lttee will also examine into the condition of the island as to agriculture, 
.ig, and the extent to which the immigrants from the United States are 
>ers and cultivators, and whether their crops, orchards, and farm produc- 
er, such as cattle, hogs, and poultry, are becoming productive and prosperous. 
jy will also give descriptions of the topography of the island, its waters and water 
.arses, and its coasts, bays, inlets, and harbors, with reference to navigation; and 
is roads and bridges and by whom constructed and paid for; its forests and their 
value; the healthfulness of the island; the character and conduct of the citizens of 
the United States who reside there; and, generally, any facts that will inform the 
Senate as to all material facts concerning the duty of the Government toward the 
safeguarding, protection, and regulation and control of its citizens who inhabit the 
Isle of Pines. 

Second. Said committee is empowered to visit the Isle of Pines, or to designate a 
subcommittee to visit the same, and to send for persons and papers. Oaths to wit- 
nesses may be administered by any member of the committee or subcommittee. 

Third. The committee is empowered to appoint a secretary, a stenographer, a 
typewriter, and a sergeant-at-arms, and to pay them their compensation at the rate 
prescribed by law. 

The necessary allowances for travel and board of the committee and its officers and 
for attendance and the mileage and attendance of witnesses shall be paid on proper 
vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee out of the contingent fund of 
the Senate. 

The committee may sit during the sessions of the Senate or during its vacations, 
and at any place in the United States or in the Isle of Pines. 

Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, W. I., 

March 1, 1906. 

Dear Sir: We, the undersigned committee, were appointed at a 
mass meeting of the American residents of the island to confer with 
you in regard to the case of A. E. Moerke, of Columbia, Isle of Pines. 
We inclose herewith his letter to the American minister, dated Feb- 
ruary 22, which was sent to him by the boat on that date, and as yet 
he is without an answer. The authorities here have been feeling 
around offering some sort of a compromise to Moerke, but he prefers 
to take his medicine until the minister replies to his request for a 
release. 

At the mass meeting held here to-da}^ many thought it best to seek 
his release, hence this committee was appointed to confer with legal 
advice and be guided by that advice. This committee has procured all 
the additional facts possible and submit them below: 

On Wednesday morning, February 21, five rural guards came to Mr. 
Moerke's place of business and demanded $100 cash bond, or they 
would arrest him and take him to Nueva Gerona. Mr. Moerke refused 
to put up the cash bond, and also explained to the guard that this 
being mail day that his duties as postmaster required him to be on hand 
upon the arrival of the boat and transport the mail from the dock to 
the post-office at Columbia, of which he is postmaster. Thereupon 
they arrested him, but promised to let him return in time to permit 
him to attend to the mail. After arrival at Nueva Gerona, instead of 
taking him before the judge, he was taken to the Cuban jail under the 
pretense of reporting to the captain of the guard, and he was there- 
upon locked up, and was not taken before the judge until 2 o'clock 
p. m. of same day. The first and only question asked him by the judge 
was: "Do you recognize my authority as judge of the Isle of Pines?" 



/ _ / l /JT.5* 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 3 

To which Mr. Moerke replied: "Under the circumstances and the pres- 
ent status of the Isle of Pines I do not consider that you have any 
legal authority on this island." Whereupon the judge became furi- 
ous, and stated that he would fine him $100 and fifty days in jail; that 
he would teach the Americans to acknowledge his authority; but after 
cooling down somewhat he changed the fine to $50 cash or lift} 7 days 
in jail, and asked Mr. Moerke which he would accept. Mr. Moerke 
replied that he would not pay the tine, and at the judge's order he 
was incarcerated in the Cuban prison. During all of these proceedings 
nothing was said to him to indicate why he had been arrested or why 
he was fined for contempt of court other than for the language above 
quoted. 

The second day after his incarceration six rural guards, by order of 
the judge, went to Mr. Moerke's place of business at Columbia, and 
as Mrs. Moerke was there alone she refused them admittance. The 
neighbors came to see what was being done, and witnessed the guards 
with guns cocked force themselves into the store department of the 
building and removed all merchandise therefrom, and not being satis- 
fied with the amount found therein demanded entrance into the living 
apartments of same building, which was refused by Mrs. Moerke, 
she stating to the guards that the door she was guarding was the door 
to the post-office, through which they had to pass to reach their living 
rooms. In spite of refusal and information the}' persisted, with their 
weapons again cocked, forced their way into the post-office and living 
rooms, carrying off, among other effects, a sewing machine, being the 
personal property of Mrs. Moerke, notwithstanding the fact that they 
were shown the evidence that same was her property. This seizure 
was made without due process of law and while Mr. Moerke was ille- 
galty detained in jail. 

Mr. Moerke telegraphed to the Postmaster-General that he was pre 
vented from his official duties as postmaster, and referred the Post 
master-General to the Postal Code, article No. 31, requesting him to 
advise, since which he has nothing from him. These are the facts pre- 
sented for your consideration and advice as to what procedure is nec- 
essary to bring about the best results for the cause for which we are 
all working, Mr. Moerke being willing to do whatever is necessaiy. 
Yours, respectfully, 

Jas. M. Steere, 
Charles Reynard, 
R. P. Ewing, 

Committee. 

Maj. J. E. Runcie, 

Habana 58, Habana, Cuba. 

The above letter, written b} r a committee of which I was chairman, 
appointed to investigate the arrest and imprisonment of Postmaster 
Moerke, of the Columbia post-office, to Major Runsie, of Habana, for 
the purpose of obtaining legal advice upon the subject, contains the 
truth concerning all the circumstances as we ascertained them to be 
after an impartial investigation. 

Jas. M. Steere. 



4 CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 

District of Columbia, 

Washington, D. C, ss: 
Personally appeared before me James M. Steere, of the Isle of 
Pines, who, first being duly sworn, deposes and says that the above 
letter and his statement following are true in all essential facts, accord- 
ing to the best of his personal knowledge and belief. 

[seal.] Benj. Vail, 

Notary Public. 



In Jail, Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, W. I., 

February 00, 1906. 

Dear Sir : As a law-abiding citizen of the United States I hereby 
appeal to you to take the necessary steps in my behalf in having me 
released from this Cuban prison. I was placed here by a Cuban judge 
under the charge of contempt of court, my sentence being a fine of 
$50 or fifty days in jail. 

The facts which have led up to this state of affairs I will briefly 
state, as follows : I came here from the State of Iowa and located at 
Columbia, Isle of Pines, upon the assurances of the War Department 
that this was and would remain American territory. Have opened a 
small store, selling a stock of general merchandise, and have paid the 
tax or license, which is very heavy, up to the 1st of last July, but when 
the Cuban Government added to my license 30 per cent for the purpose 
of paying oif the bonds issued for the payment of their Cuban soldiers 
I refused to pay any part of same, as my understanding is that Gen- 
eral Wood had a distinct understanding with the Cuban Government 
that the Isle of Pines would remain as a de facto government until the 
United States took charge of same. In fact, I maintain that under the 
Piatt amendment and under the Cuban constitution the} T have no rights 
on this island. They have tried in many ways to make me pay what I 
firmly believe I have no right to paj% and what I believe they have no 
right to make me pay. 

My place of business is 6 or 7 miles from this place, and last Monday 
I was summoned to appear before the judge here. I came at the 
appointed hour and waited some time to see the judge, but could not 
get any satisfaction as to the time he would see me, and as I had 
important business to attend to at home, being the postmaster at that 
point for the Cuban Government, hence an officer of that Government, 
I could not wait longer, and went back to my home and business. The 
next morning the rural guards arrested me and brought me to this 
place and placed me in jail to await the pleasure of the judge. At 2 
o'clock I was taken through the streets of this town to the court and 
was sentenced without a trial to a fine of $50 or fifty days in jail. 

If you have ever visited a Cuban jail or even seen their " bill of 
fare" you will know what I am suffering, to say nothing of the humilia- 
tion of being obliged to submit to such punishment from such a source, 
especially when I know they have no rights that entitle them to inflict 
this punishment on an American citizen. Had 1 committed any crimi- 
nal act there might be some excuse for my incarceration, but simply 
because I could not wait all day for his pleasure to see me he inflicts 
this unheard-of fine. Had he sent again for me and stated the time he 
would see me I would have accommodated him, even at considerable 
inconvenience to me. In fact, I have never been informed why I was 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 5 

summoned, and can only surmise it related to my nonpayment of their 
demand for license. They have never expended a centen for the ben- 
efit of this island, and many owners of vehicles are refusing to pay 
taxes on their vehicles until the Cuban Government does something 
for the betterment of the roads and bridges. 

I trust that }^ou will make or cause to be made an investigation of 
my case at your earliest possible moment, before any more of my 
fellow-citizens are subject to such outrageous treatment. 
Yours, very respectfully, 

A. E. Moerke. 
Hon. Mr. Morgan, 

United States Minister to Cuba, Hahana, Cuba. 



Washington, D. C, March 22, 1906. 
To the Senate of the United States : 

Your petitioner, James M. Steere, formerly a citizen of Texas, liv- 
ing in what he believes to be American territory, is constrained to 
apply to your honorable body for such relief as may be in your power 
to grant. Your petitioner has lived with his family in the Isle of 
Pines, which he was led to regard as American territory through the 
representations made by officials of the War and other Departments 
of the United States Government for a period of the year past. 
Prior to that time, although now 61 years of age, he has never been 
summoned to any court or been under arrest for any criminal act. He 
served honorably and with distinction as a Union soldier in the civil 
war. He was discharged in 1862 under a surgeon's certificate of dis- 
ability, but was reenlisted in 1861, after partial recovery as regimental 
commissary-sergeant, on the understanding that his physical condition 
would permit him to do clerical work. He then served to the end of 
the civil war. He has been entitled to a pension for the past forty 
years, but never even made an application for the same, not wishing 
to become a pensioner as long as he was able to earn his own living. 

Since the war time he has held many responsible and honorable posi- 
tions, filling at one time or another the positions of secretary and treas- 
urer of the Missouri Iron Works, of St. Louis; agent of the Canada 
Southern Fast Freight Line for nine consecutive years, and assistant 
general freight agent of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, a 
part of the system of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, for eight 
years. During the time that he was assistant general freight agent 
he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of the Department of 
Texas, Grand Army of the Republic, "He was the general agent for 
the Kansas and Texas Coal Company for Texas and Mexico. He was 
president of the Republican League Club of Dallas, Tex., for several 
years, and was the representative of the Sixth Congressional district 
on the Republican State central committee of Texas for several years. 
He was induced to go to the Isle of Pines on account of his health. 
mainly through the alluring description of the island sent out under 
the auspices of the War Department, and the letters of that and other 
Departments sent out to the effect that the Isle of Pines of right was 
and would be continued as American territory. 

Notwithstanding his unblemished character and services and his emi- 
nently peaceful and quiet demeanor at all times, he has been forced to 
abandon his home and property in the Isle of Pines and flee to the 



6 CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 

United States to escape a Cuban prison for no offense that would be 
recognized in any civilized country as worthy of even a jail sentence 
of a few days duration. He has dutifully complied with all reason- 
able orders of the Cuban courts, but is now unwilling to serve a term 
of from three to six 3>-ears in a Cuban prison at his advanced time of life 
and in his present state of health on a charge of malversation of public 
property which he has turned over to the Isle of Pines Cuban court 
as ordered, and so far as he knows, is now in their possession. Such 
is the sentence he firmly and truly believes awaits him in Habana if he 
answers in person to the summons which he has received, and which 
he has been informed is simply the prologue to a severe penalty of 
imprisonment which has been determined on in advance of his trial. 
He truly believes that this persecution from the Cuban authorities is 
due mainly to his recent prominent part in the mass meetings of 
American citizens in the Isle of Pines, held for the purpose of securing 
an American government in the island if possible. Following is a 
translation of the summons which warned him that he would have to 
flee to the country or be imprisoned without cause: 

Senor James A. Steere (Case No. 3906): 

By order of the judge you are cited to appear on the 28th of the present month 
before the second division of the first criminal court of the district of Habana, for 
the purpose of answering as defendant in open court in the case numbered on the 
margin, brought against you for the malversation of public property. You are advised 
to present yourself or give sufficient reason as to what prevents and show cause 
therefor. 

Nueva Gerona, March 6, 1906; given at 2 p. m. 

Ivag. F. Alvakad, 

Clerk of the Court. 

Statements which recently appeared in the Habana Telegraph of the 
date of March 13, a newspaper published in the city of Habana, were 
to the effect that the Cuban rural guard in the Isle of Pines had orders, 
seemingly from the Cuban secretary of state, to shoot down all Americans 
who offered the slightest resistance or provocation to the high-handed 
procedure of the Cuban authorities, or who should commit any act 
against Cuban sovereigntj 7 . On account of this and many other threats 
in La Luch, another Cuban newspaper published in the same place, as 
well as on account of other statements by hot-headed Cubans, both in 
Cuba and on the Isle of Pines, many Americans are leaving the island, 
especially women and children, who are thus obliged to abandon their 
homes and their property. 

A clear statement of the facts which led up to the interference of 
the Habana courts in my case in the Isle of Pines may be had from the 
following letters written by me to Edward P. Ryan, at Washington, 
D. C, who was elected as a delegate to represent the Isle of Pines set- 
tlers at the capital of the United States: 

Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, 

January 20, 1906. 

Dear Sir: Since writing you last I have had a little case of Cuban justice, which 
I will truthfully explain below. The Palace Hotel, as you are aware, got into finan- 
cial difficulty, and its creditors had to go into court to obtain their just dues. When 
judgment was obtained each creditor had the privilege of taking sufficient goods or 
articles as they thought would cover the amount claimed. These were seized by the 
court and removed from the hotel to a place of storage awaiting the time to elapse 
for a public sale. 

One of Mr. Pearcy's houses was selected and a verbal agreement made with the 
court officers that the storage for each lot of goods taken from the hotel would be 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OB' THE ISLE OF PINES. 7 

50 cents per day. I was made the custodian of the goods for safe-keeping. There 
were two lots placed in the rooms at different dates by the court, and after the sale of 
the first lot the court demanded delivery, which I made; after which I asked for 
the rent due for the storage, amounting to $10.50. The clerk of the court gave me 
to understand that it was all right and that I would get the money '' mafiana." This 
in English means '"to-morrow," but it seems to have no meaning in the Cuban ver- 
nacular. The first lot was delivered on December 21, and when the court demanded 
the delivery of the second lot, January 15, the first bill for storage was still unpaid. 
Hence I refused to deliver the second lot until the agreement had been complied 
with regarding the first lot. I agreed, however, if the judge would promise me that 
the bills would be paid at some definite date, that I would deliver them, but as he 
would not give me any satisfaction I flatly refused to give up the goods. The munici- 
pal judge thereupon had me arrested and taken before the next higher court on a 
criminal charge of withholding goods belonging to the court. 

This higher court, after going through a lot of irrelevant red tape, evidently to 
impress me with the dignity of the court, stated to me the charges, to wit, for with- 
holding from the municipal court the goods of which it had placed me in custody. 
I replied that it was a fact and that I proposed to hold them until I could get some 
satisfaction for the rent incurred, for which I was held responsible. The judge 
stated that I could not hold the goods for that purpose. I then asked him if the 
municipal court was part of the Cuban Government. He replied "Yes." I then 
asked if the custom-house was also a part of the Cuban Government, eliciting the 
same reply. I then stated to him that it was impossible for us to get a single pack- 
age from the custom-house warehouse, even though the same was in a dilapidated, 
leaky condition, without paying every cent of storage due on it. He said that was 
different, but still insisted that I could not hold these goods for the storage charges. 
He said, however, that if I would deliver them and then present my bill to the 
municipal court he would see that the bill was paid, and further stated that all pro- 
ceedings in the present case would be stopped. To this I consented, and then 
delivered the goods in question. I presentee! the bill to the municipal judge and he 
would not receive it; hence I took it to the higher judge, and much to my amaze- 
ment and chagrin he stated that I would have to look to the parties that instituted 
the suits against the hotel and not to the municipal court. What do you think of 
that for chicanery? 

Well, yesterday I received another notice from this higher judge to appear at his 
office this morning at 9 o'clock or be subject to a fine. I went there and was told 
by the clerk that as these proceedings had been commenced it would be necessary 
for me to appear at his court every Monday morning until the case was disposed of 
in Habana. I expressed my surprise at this new phase of annoyance and humilia- 
tion after the distinct understanding of the day before that all proceedings would be 
dropped if I would give up the. goods. But in order to assist them in disposing of 
the case, I decided that I would consent to come to the court every Mum lay morn- 
ing. To this agreement I had to sign my name. After this was done and I was pre- 
paring to leave the court room, I was requested to sit down, and then the clerk stated 
that it will be necessary for me to give a §100 bond in cash. I then saw the nigger 
in the wood pile, which was nothing more nor less than to get another whack at an 
American's money. This I refused to do, as I was not prepared to do so. He then 
stated that if I would declare that I had no property I could get two responsible 
residents to go on my bond. I told him that I had property and that 1 would let 
him know later in the day whether I would or would not give bond. 

1 thereupon consulted with some of the best citizens of the island, and they said 
that I had done enough, and advised me to so notify the judge and they would stand 
by me to the last. I therefore went to the court prepared to tell the judge, and after 
waiting for half an hour I asked the clerk for permission to see the judge, as my 
office was locked up and 1 was anxious to get back. His reply was, in a most insult- 
ing tone, that if I could not wait to get out. There was no business before the judge 
at the time, and he could have seen me without any trouble; but they desire to make 
themselves very officious, especially J:o Americans. Such is the gratitude of the 
Cubans, for whom the Americans have done so much without appreciation. In fact, 
it seems to be the delight of Cubans to take all the advantage possible of the American 
population. I do not know what the result may be in this matter, hut presume they 
will send me to jail for attempting to do my duty. But some day these ( 'ubans will 
go a little too far, and there are now too many Americans on this island to fool with, 
and God pity them when that time comes. 
Yours, truly, 

James M, Steer e. 

Mr. Ed. P. Ryan, 

Washington, 1). C. 



8 CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 

[Letter No. 2.] 

Neuva Geeona, Isle op Pines, 

January 24, 1906. 

Dear Sir: Since writing you on the 20th instant I have heen subjected to all kinds 
of persecution at the hands of the judge of the court of first instance. He has tried 
every way to get hold of some of my money, so that Cuba can keep her wheels greased. 
I have been obliged to put all my property out of my hands, even to the necessary 
household goods, as I am informed that it is their intention to cause me all the annoy- 
ance possible on account of my connection with the movement to have the United 
States assume possession of their own property. 

This is only a reflection of the position advocated by the honorable Secretary of 
State, and it is bearing early fruit. The former judge, Delago, was bad enough for the 
Americans, still he did occasionally use a little judgment and ignored a few cases as 
too insignificant, hence he was removed, and another judge sent here for the distinct 
purpose of prosecuting Americans to the fullest extent possible under the peculiarities 
of Cuban-Spanish laws. This is evidenced by the Cuban paper La Lucha, which 
gave the new judge great credit in its last Sunday edition for his punishment to be 
inflicted on one of the so-called new government officials (meaning myself). This 
article was inspired before I was aware of any further proceedings growing out of my 
attempt to protect myself in the responsibility of collecting the rent for the goods 
held in storage for the municipal court. This is all the wrong that I have done, and 
as soon as the judge informed me that I could not hold the goods for the rent, as 
agreed to by the court that placed me in charge, I delivered them with the distinct 
understanding that he would assist me in collecting the rent due and would drop all 
these proceedings. After they recovered the goods by this ruse, proceedings have 
been continued and every effort made to make me give $100 bond, for the sole pur- 
pose of tacking on all kinds of costs and taking it out of the deposit. I am now told 
to-day that the case is to be continued in Habana, thus compelling me to go to the 
expense and annoyance of going there and hiring a lawyer to plead my case. 

It is of course useless to appeal to the American minister in Habana on account of 
this unjust and uncalled-for treatment, as his attitude in the past has in nowise oper- 
ated to stop persecution. Can not you get some Senator to take up this case and 
prevent this farce from proceeding further? I am not able to go to Habana or employ 
a lawyer to represent me. Hence the probabilities are that there will be a very heavy 
fine imposed in addition to numerous court costs, and if this is not paid by me on 
presentation I am liable to be cast into a Cuban prison; and if such should be the 
result, there is no telling what the American residents might do, as these whole pro- 
ceedings are so foreign to American justice they will not stand for it, and it would 
result in further complications for our cause. Quick action is necessary. I have given 
you the whole facts in my two letters. Every other nation protects its citizens. Why- 
should not ours do likewise? It does seem to me that there are some patriotic citi- 
zens in America that are more considerate of their fellow-rnen than to abandon them 
to persecution. 

I have always been a law-abiding citizen of the United States and can give all the. 
references necessary to back up this assertion. I am 61 years of age and never was 
called into a court of justice before in my whole life, and have always held positions 
of honor and trust. I have always admired President Roosevelt, but I regret to see 
that notwithstanding his promise to carry out the policy of our late lamented Wil- 
liam McKinley he appears anxious to deliver this possession of the United States to 
a people that are not fit to govern themselves, and also that he will tolerate a Secre- 
tary of State who does not stop them from persecuting us to the limit. They did not 
need this liberty, as they were already making it as uncomfortable for Americans as 
they possibly could, instead of being grateful to us for giving them their liberty — in 
fact, like itself. Spain would have annihilated them in a few months longer had not 
the United States taken up the fight for them. But this is digressing. In support 
of my assertions in regard to my previous conduct and character I take the liberty 
of referring to Mr. W. W. Finley, of Washington, D. C, vice-president of the South- 
ern Eailway. He has known me for many years. I also refer you to the Hon. Joseph 
W. Bailey, Senator from Texas. 

It is generally understood here on the island that the present treaty is likely to be 
hung up indefinitely, and if this is the case something must be done to relieve the 
tension on the Americans here. They demand that as a safeguard to their peace and 
liberty the Congress of the United States send us a governor until it is fully deter- 
mined what is to be done with the island. From all that I can gather the Americans 
will not be satisfied with amendments that will carry with them Cuban possession. 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 9 

It will create more friction than the Anglo-Saxon race will stand, and it is better for 
all concerned to have American rule pending further negotiations. 
Yours, truly, 

James M. Steere. 
Mr. Ed. P. Ryan, 

308 East Capitol street, Washington, D. C. 



[Letter No. 3.] 

Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, W. I. , March 5, 1906. 

Dear Ed. : Referring to my letters to you, under date of January 20 and 24, in regard 
to the continuance of the proceedings against me for trying to collect the rent due for 
storage on the goods held for the municipal court, I am advised to-day that the court 
at Habana has notified this judge here to notify me that it will be necessary for me 
to appear in Habana on the 28th of this month or be subject to an additional fine. 
This is going to place an additional hardship on me; and as I delivered these goods 
as soon as the judge here explained that I could not hold them for the storage 
charges, and also agreed to see that the bill for the same was paid, and that he would 
drop all these proceedings, I can not see why I should be persecuted further. Neither 
can I see where the Cuban Government can compel my presence in Cuba for any 
offense committed on the Isle of Pines, as their constitution does not apply to this 
island until the treaty now under consideration is ratified. 

It seems to me, however, that they are doing as they please, without any action 
of the United States to the contrary. I certainly do not feel called upon to go to 
Habana, as the Cuban authorities have obtained all they were contending for — the 
possession of the goods without paying one cent of the storage charges, which are 
still unpaid— notwithstanding the promise of the judge to see that I got the money. 
I have reported to the court every Monday morning — according to my promise to do 
so. I can not afford to get tangled up with these Cuban courts, even though I know 
that I am right, without some backing from my own Government. It is the delight 
of these Cubans to soak an American at every opportunity, and this is a fair sample 
of their idea of justice. 

American residents are becoming very restless at the condition of things in gen- 
eral, and some action should be taken at Washington before it becomes unbearable 
and thus save trouble. 
Yours, truly, 

James M. Steere. 

Mr. Ed. P. Ryan, 

No. 308 East Capitol Street, Washington, D. C. 

As a remedy for the evils above set forth your petitioner suggests that a commit- 
tee of the Senate be appointed to make a complete examination on the ground and 
also in Cuba of the present conditions in the Isle of Pines and to report the same for 
the future action of your honorable body. The same committee should also report 
to the Senate what is the proper final disposition to make with regard to the title to 
the sovereignty over the island. He advises these steps because under present con- 
ditions some act of oppression at any moment may cause riot or bloodshed on the 
island, which would, in my opinion, reopen the entire Cuban question and involve 
the citizens of the United States in filibustering expeditons, coupled with rebellion 
and civil war in Cuba. The conditions at present are charged with dynamite and 
must be taken in hand at once to avoid endless complications. 

J as. M. Steere. 



District of Columbia, ss: 

Personally appeared before me James M. Steere, of Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, 
West Indies, and after being duly sworn deposes and says that all the facts alleged in 
the above petition to Congress and in the letters to Mr. Ryan embodied therein are 
true and correct to the best of his personal knowledge and belief. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22d day of March, A. D. 1906. 

[seal.]' Benj. Yah,. Notary Public. 

District of Columbia, ss: 

James M. Steere, first being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a resident of 
the Isle of Pines and that he has been a resident of that island for the past year; that 



10 CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 

he was present when a committee was recently appointed at a mass meeting of 
American citizens at Nueva Gerona, on the Isle of Pines, March 1, 1906, when a commit- 
tee consisting of R. P. Ewing, Driver Fullton, and E. C. Rogers, with such assistance 
as might be needed, were appointed to take a census of the people living on the island 
without in any way interfering with the rights of any person resident on said island. It 
was deemed necessary that such a census should be taken in order that the truth should 
be given to the Senate of the United Statesandto the world regarding the continued and 
persistent misstatements to the effect that only a few land speculators from the United 
States held property on the island and that the great majority of residents and prop- 
erty owners were Cubans. Particular instructions were given to the members of this 
census committee to ask no questions of individuals in the course of their census 
taking which might offend Cuban sensibilities. Each member of the committee, it 
was understood, knew in a general way the number of people in each household of 
the district he was assigned to. The Cubans, however, discovered the personality of 
two of the committee, namely, Messrs. Driver Fullton and H. A. Mayer. Fullton 
was arrested, and, after being threatened by the alcalde with imprisonment if he per- 
sisted in taking the census, was allowed to go. He feared subsequent proceedings 
and left the island. 

As regards Mr. Mayer, more stringent measures were attempted. The assistant 
alcalde, accompanied by a Cuban rural guard, went to his home and made threats 
of arrest, and during the argument which followed it was stated by Mr. and Mrs. 
Mayer that the assistant alcalde used toward Mrs. Mayer a grossly indecent epithet. 
This caused Mayer to threaten to break the assistant alcalde's neck, but fearing the 
Cuban law, which is usually administered in the Isle of Pines so as to convict the 
American and allow the Cuban to escape, he desisted in assault on the offender. 

Mr. Mayer afterwards had the assistant alcalde arrested for insulting his wife", but 
when the case was brought up for trial the court refused to allow either Mayer or 
his wife or his brother-in-law, who was present, to testify as to the insult, on the 
ground that the Cuban law does not allow interested parties to testify in criminal 
cases. There being no accusing witnesses who would be allowed to testify, the 
assistant alcalde was triumphantly acquitted, while Mr. Mayer was fined $5 for 
bringing a case against an official or else for attempting to take a census. No reason 
was given for imposing the fine. 

This outrage has greatly incensed Americans living on the island, who, under all 
conditions, respect their wives and mothers, and it is liable to cause future trouble 
and perhaps bloodshed. It is needless to call attention to the fact that Americans 
will not long submit to this kind of law, administered, as it is always, in favor of the 
office-holding Cuban classes. 

Jas. M. Steeee. 



District op Columbia, 

City of Washington, ss: 

Personally appeared before me James M. Steere, of Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, 
West Indies, and made oath to the foregoing on this 22d day of March, A. D. 1906. 

[seal.] Benj. Vail, Notary Public. 



[From the Habana Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, March 13, 1906.] 

ON THE ISLE OF PINES — SAID THAT AMERICANS THERE HAVE DECLARED 

INDEPENDENCE. 

The following note was yesterday given out to the press by rural- 
guard headquarters: 

The chief of the detachment of the rural guards on the Isle of Pines sends word 
that a group of Americans residing in the island have met and decided to declare the 
island independent of Cuba, and the person presiding at the meeting undertook to 
communicate what had been done to the administrator of customs there. 

A representative of the Telegraph called upon Secretary Freyre de 
Andrade to inquire if he had received any further details regarding 
the matter, but the secretary said he had not, and treated the report 
as of no consequence whatsoever. 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 11 

Governor of the province, Gen. Emilio Nunez, was also called upon, 
and said that he had heard nothing whatsoever regarding the matter 
beyond the rural-guard report. The governor said that there was no 
particular alarm in the adoption of such resolutions as long as they 
were not acted up to, and that the collector of customs on the isle would 
probably show no resentment when informed of them. 

The governor said, however, that heretofore the Cuban Government 
had not insisted on the payment of taxes on the island, but had now 
started in to collect them. He considered the amendment to the Isle 
of Pines treat} 7 , presented by Senators Bacon and Spooner, an impos- 
sible proposition, as, in his opinion, its enactment would require a 
radical change in the Cuban constitution, which provides for only six 
provinces and no territories. The governor did not, however, think 
that any serious trouble was imminent on the disputed islet. 

Senor Villalon, of Secretary Freyre de Andrade's department, seemed 
to take the thing more seriously than his chief, and when asked about 
it by another reporter of the Telegraph stated that the rural guards 
had received instructions to shoot the Americans the moment the lat- 
ter should commit any act of rebellion against Cuban sovereignty. 

As there is now wireless communication between Cuba and the isle 
it is safe to say, however, that nothing of any moment occurred when 
the chairman of the terriorialist meeting 1 handed in his chestnut. 



[The Sun, Monday, March 5, 1906.] 

ON THE ISLE OF PINES — AN AMERICAN WHO FAVORS CUBAN GOVERN- 
MENT. 

Editor of the Sun. 

Sir: It is the business of a little band of political agitators and land 
boomers on this end of the Isle of Pines to meet all American tourists 
and to keep their minds occupied with harrowing tales of Cuban atroci- 
ties and with stories of profits which would be sure to accrue to all 
holders of island real estate should Uncle Sam drive the "hated" 
Cubans off the island. Of course all this is more or less entertaining 
to the tourists, that depending chiefly upon their digestive organs, and 
has earned for the boomers the expressive appellation of ""that crowd." 

The statement is made in the literature sent out by the would-be 
revolutionists that it would be humiliating to a great degree for the 
Americans here to be governed by "an inferior people. " 1 can say, as 
missionary pastoi here, that I have failed to discover such inferiority. 
True, there are people here of a low order of civilization, but in any 
comparisons which ma} 7 be made one must take into consideration the 
disadvantages under which these poor people have been by way of 
education, etc. It must be distinctly understood, however, that this is 
not the class which does the governing. 

I number among my friends no more courteous or obliging gentle- 
men than the Cuban officials on the Isle of Pines. They rank with 
our best class of American citizens, and when compared with those who 
would belittle them, in education, integrity, courtliness of manners, 
and good citizenship, the superiority of the Cubans is quite apparent. 

I wish to appeal to the sense of honor and Christian charity of the 



12 CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 

American people in making their decision upon this Isle of Pines affair. 
The Cuban people believe the American people to be their friends. 
They do not believe that "La Gran Republica" could perform one of 
the grandest acts in the history of any nation — that of fighting and 
winning a victory for a down-trodden people— ^and then say to them, 
" Your country is yours; workout your political salvation and we will 
help you in such ways as may seem advisable to maintain your Govern- 
ment as an independent republic," for selfish reasons. No; the Cuban 
people believe in the American people and in their high ideas. They 
do not believe that that august body, the great American Senate, will 
permit the great injustice to be done them of taking from them this 
little island which never could be of any real benefit to our Govern- 
ment, but which would be a bill of expense continually. 

In looking for ideals to weave into the social fabric of Cuba, her 
people look for the best that is to be had from their friends of the 
great Republic, and if Cuba is to construct a government which will 
stand, she must do so on the foundation that has withstood the 
onslaughts of time, upon truths which are as eternal as the heavens, 
because they are of God, who is eternal; upon an abiding faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and character builder for the human 
race, knowing that great governments are but the reflex of national 
character, and can be had in the smallest republic as well as the greatest. 

For a working example of such a government it is natural that the 
Cuban people should look to their benefactor, the United States of 
America, whose statesmen have for the most part been actuated by the 
thought and sustained hy the idea that unsullied reputation in the indi- 
vidual is the first great step toward national greatness. 

Kenneth M. Dedrick. 

Nueva Geeona, Isle of Pines, February 22, 1906. 



Washington, D. C, March 22, 1906. 

Dear Senator Morgan: As requested, I give you a list of such 
persons interested in the Isle of Pines who are from Cincinnati and 
vicinity. I have only included such as are personal friends and neigh- 
bors; there are many more with whom I am not personally acquainted — 
in all about 100 — they are all small landholders who invested under 
the belief that the island would remain under the jurisdiction of the 
United States. At present some of them are residents on the island, 
some have their representatives there who are getting their land 
under cultivation, planting orange groves, etc., and all hope at some 
time to make the island their permanent winter home. 

To the most of them the ceding of the island to Cuba would fall as 
a great calamity. Many of them have invested the savings of years, 
believing they were preparing a winter home in this delightful climate 
under the American flag in which to spend their declining years. 

Admitting that they had no right to accept the assurances of 
Assistant Secretary of War, Governor-General Wood, and other offi- 
cials of this Government, as intimated in the majority report of the 
Committee on Foreign Relations, the fact remains that they have done 
so and stand to suffer considerably by this change of front on the part 
of this Government. We therefore, as American citizens, demand the 



CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF PINES. 13 

most earnest consideration of the question before action is taken on 
the proposed treat}^ believing that a way can be found out of this 
difficulty which will work no such injustice as would result from the 
proposed action. 

Yours, respectfully, Archibald Fries. 



Acres. 

Lewis N. Gatch, attorney 200 

Rev. H. T. Crane, minister 200 

R. H. Bishop, retired merchant 100 

Miss Willa H. Spillard, teacher ( 10 

Miss Edna M. Spillard, teacher ' 10 

Miss Sarah V. Spillard, teacher. 10 

Miss Edith Crane, teacher 10 

Miss Ida T. Smith, teacher 50 

Mr. George Smith, laundryman 50 

Mr. Forrest Nelson, farmer 100 

Mr. Frank Nelson, farmer 100 

Mr. Frank Rothenhoafer 500 

Dr. G. S. Junkerman, dentist 80 

Mrs. Guido Kemper, widow 80 

Mr. Henry Ransom, merchant 40 

Mr. George W. Losh, merchant 100 

Mr. Thomas Earhart, lumberman 50 

Mr. Frank J. Morris, stenographer 40 

Mr. Arthur Shubert, clerk 40 

Mr. William Shubert, clerk 40 

Mr. A. Burkhart, bookkeeper 40 

Mr. William Durham, retired merchant 40 

Mr. George Durham*, farmer 250 

Mr. Ernest T. Fries, attorney 100 

Mr. Albert N. Fries, laundryman 100 

Mr. Archibald Fries, freight agent 300 

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Conservation Resources 



